BP AslheyK

Beowulf Project; Audiobook
Line 2144-2186




“Thus the king acted with due custom.
So the king acted as he should

I was paid and recompensed completely,
and paid me all I deserved,

given full measure and the freedom to choose
allowing me to choose what I wanted

from Hrothgar’s treasures by Hrothgar himself.
from his own treasures.

These, King Hygelac, I am happy to present
I am glad to present these to you King Hygelac.

to you as gifts. It is still upon your grace
Because it is due to you

that all favour depends. I have few kinsmen
that I have come this far. As a general rule, I do not have many friends

who are close, my king, except for your kind self.”
- I am glad you are an exception, my king."

Then he ordered the boar-framed standard to be brought,
Hrothgar then asked for the flag to be brought in

the battle-topping helmet, the mail-shirt grey as hoar-frost
along with the helmet, the grey mail-shirt

and the precious war-sward; and proceeded with his speech.
and a special sword - which he made a speech about.

“When Hrothgar presented this war-gear to me
When Hrothgar gave me these presents

he instructed me, my lord, to give you some account
he told me to inform you of

of why it signifies his special favour.
why this was a special gesture.

He said it had belonged to his older brother,
His older brother, King Heorogar, had had them before

King Heorogar, who had long kept it,
for a long time.

but that Heorogar had never bequeathed it
But Heorogar had never given them

to his son Heorogar, that worthy scion,
to his own son Heorogar -

loyal as he was.
although he was very loyal and worthy.

Enjoy it well.”
Enjoy it."




I heard four horses were handead over next.
I hard he gave the king four fast bay horses next

Beowulf bestowed four bay steeds

to go with the armour, swift gallopers,
to go with the armour.

all alike. So ought a kinsman act,
This is how relatives should act

instead of plotting and planning in secret
- they should not plot

to bring people to grief, or conspiring to arrange
evil schemes or plan

the death of comrades. The warrior king
the death of others.

was uncle to Beowulf and honoured by his nephew:
The king was Beowulf's uncle -

each was concerened for the other’s good.
Beowulf respected him, and each looked out for the other.




I heard he presented Hygd with a gorget,
Then he gave Queen Hygd a priceless necklace

the priceless torque that the prince’s daughter,
, which had been given to him by Wealtheow

Wealhtheow, had given him; and three horses,
along with three thee beautiful horses.

supple creatures, brilliantly saddled.

The bright necklace would be luminous on Hygd’s breast.
The necklace would suit Hygd well.




Thus Beowulf bore himself with valour;
Beowulf was brave and fearsome -

he was formidable in battle yet behaved with honour
yet he was always honourable

and took no advantage; never cut down
and never took unfair advantage of his strength.

a comrade who was drunk, kept his temper
He did not lose his temper and never killed drunk soldiers;

and, warrior that he was, watched and controlled
making sure to always control his natural strength.

his God-sent strength and his outstanding

natural powers. He had been poorly regarded
Due to this self control, for a long time other Geats and their king

for a long time, was taken by the Geats
had assumed that

for less than he was worth: and their lord too
he was weaker that what he really was.

had never much esteemed him in the mead-hall.